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  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Ratings
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  • New Releases

THE KISS THIEF by L.J. SHEN. . . Blog Tour

January 17, 2019

 

 

THE KISS THIEF BY L.J. SHEN

Release Date: January 9th

Cover Designer: Letitia Hasser at RBA Designs.

 

 

 

 

AVAILABLE NOW!

FREE IN KU!

 

 

AUDIO: https://amzn.to/2Vwq73z

 

 

 

 

 

Add to Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41450662-tk

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blurb:


They say your first kiss should be earned.

Mine was stolen by a devil in a masquerade mask under the black Chicago sky.

They say the vows you take on your wedding day are sacred.

Mine were broken before we left church.

They say your heart only beats for one man.

Mine split and bled for two rivals who fought for it until the bitter end.

I was promised to Angelo Bandini, the heir to one of the most powerful families in the Chicago Outfit.

Then taken by Senator Wolfe Keaton, who held my father’s sins over his head to force me into marriage.

They say that all great love stories have a happy ending.

I, Francesca Rossi, found myself erasing and rewriting mine until the very last chapter.

One kiss.

Two men.

Three lives.

Entwined together.

And somewhere between these two men, I had to find my forever.

 

 

My Review:


“I sucked in a breath, realizing for the first time what we were. A story of a Nemesis and a Villain with no chance at a happy ending. Where the prince doesn’t save the princess. He tortures her. And the beauty doesn’t sleep.”

Francesca Rossi is the pampered daughter of a famous crime family. She is expected to marry young and her father selects the best possible choice for her – Wolfe Keaton, who has a brilliant political career ahead of him. Her family observes a tradition that involves a box with notes that contain her destiny within them. Francesca reads one of the notes which said that her first kiss would be her true love. She thinks that will be her childhood crush Angelo – but her first kiss turns out to be with Wolfe Keaton, a true wolf in sheep’s clothing! Senator Wolfe Keaton was the kiss thief.

All Wolfe wants is revenge against the Rossi family. If you enjoy a fast-paced Mafia romance, then this is the book for you. A true enemies-to-lovers romance, Francesca and Wolfe can barely stand to be in the same room together. But Francesca is full of surprises and Keaton allows her to grow and break free from some of her family’s suffocating expectations.

“You don’t need to meet a husband, Frankie. You need to meet your parents’ expectations.”

Both Francesca and Keaton are stubborn and headstrong but there is no denying their attraction to each other. What will happen to Francesca’s loyalty to her family when she learns of Keaton’s true intentions?

“…Wolfe is capable of feeling whatever you feel toward him but much, much stronger. More resilient and more powerful. For everything he does, he does thoroughly and brilliantly. Most of all, love.”

I enjoyed the general storyline, but the writing could have used much tighter editing as I felt much of the language was repetitive and in some cases, too simplistic. With that said, many readers have put ‘The Kiss Thief’ on their best of 2019 lists already so definitely give this one a try if Mafia romance appeals to you.

“My wings are not meant to fly,” I whispered. “They’re meant to shield our family.”

 

 

 

Excerpt:

“Are you sure you’re on my card?” I turned to the man with a polite yet distant smile. I was still disoriented from the exchange with Angelo when the stranger pulled me against his hard body and pressed a possessive hand lower than socially acceptable on my back, a second from groping my butt.

“Answer me,” I hissed.

“My bid on your card was the highest,” he replied dryly.

“The bids are undisclosed. You don’t know how much other people have paid,” I kept my lips pursed to keep myself from yelling.

“I know it’s nowhere near the realm of what this dance is worth.”

Un-freaking-believable.

We began to waltz around the room as other couples were not only spinning and mingling but also stealing envious glances at us. Naked, raw ogles that told me that whomever the blonde he’d come to the masquerade with was, she wasn’t his wife. And that I might have been all the rage in The Outfit, but the rude man was in high demand, too.

I was stiff and cold in his arms, but he didn’t seem to notice—or mind. He knew how to waltz better than most men, but he was technical, and lacked warmth and Angelo’s playfulness.

“Nemesis.” He took me by surprise, his rapacious gaze stripping me bare. “Distributing glee and dealing misery. Seems at odds with the submissive girl who entertained Bishop and his horsey wife at the table.”

I choked on my own saliva. Did he just call the governor’s wife horsey? And me submissive? I looked away, ignoring the addictive scent of his cologne, and the way his marble body felt against mine.

“Nemesis is my spirit animal. She was the one to lure Narcissus to a pool where he saw his own reflection and died of vanity. Pride is a terrible illness.” I flashed him a taunting smirk.

“Some of us could use catching it.” He bared his straight white teeth.

“Arrogance is a disease. Compassion is the cure. Most gods didn’t like Nemesis, but that’s because she had a backbone.”

“Do you?” He arched a dark eyebrow.

“Do I…?” I blinked, the courteous grin on my face crumpling. He was even ruder when we were alone.

“Have a backbone,” he provided. He stared at me so boldly and intimately, it felt like he breathed fire into my soul. I wanted to step out of his touch and jump into a pool full of ice.

“Of course, I do,” I responded, my spine stiffening. “What’s with the manners? Were you raised by wild coyotes?”

“Give me an example,” he said, ignoring my quip. I was beginning to draw away from him, but he jerked me back into his arms. The glitzy ballroom distorted into a backdrop, and even though I was starting to notice that the man behind the demi-mask was unusually beautiful, the ugliness of his behavior was the only thing that stood out.

I am a warrior and a lady…and a sane person who can deal with this horrid man.

“I really like Angelo Bandini.” I dropped my voice, slicing my gaze from his eyes and toward the table where Angelo’s family had been seated. My father was sitting a few seats away, staring at us coldly, surrounded by Made Men who chatted away.

“And see, in my family, we have a tradition dating back ten generations. Prior to her wedding, a Rossi bride is to open a wooden chest—carved and made by a witch who lived in my ancestors’ Italian village—and read three notes written to her by the last Rossi girl to marry. It’s kind of a good luck charm mixed with a talisman and a bit of fortunetelling. I stole the chest tonight and opened one of the notes, all so I could rush fate. It said that tonight I was going to be kissed by the love of my life, and well…” I drew my lower lip into my mouth and sucked it, peering under my eyelashes at Angelo’s empty seat. The man stared at me stoically, as though I was a foreign film he couldn’t understand. “I’m going to kiss him tonight.”

“That’s your backbone?”

“When I have an ambition, I go for it.”

A conceited frown crinkled his mask, as if to say I was a complete and utter moron. I looked him straight in the eye. My father taught me that the best way to deal with men like him was to confront, not run. Because, this man? He’d chase.

 

 

 

 

About the Author
L.J. Shen is an International #1 best-selling author of Contemporary Romance and New Adult novels. She lives in Northern California with her husband, young son and chubby cat.

Before she’d settled down, L.J. (who thinks referring to herself in the third person is really silly, by the way) traveled the world, and collected friends from all across the globe. Friends who’d be happy to report that she is a rubbish companion, always forgets peoples’ birthdays and never sends Christmas cards.

She enjoys the simple things in life, like spending time with her family and friends, reading, HBO, Netflix and internet-stalking Stephen James. She reads between three to five books a week and firmly believes Crocs shoes and mullets should be outlawed.

 

 

Connect with L.J. Shen
Website: http://www.authorljshen.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorljshen/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lj_shen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorljshen/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authorljshen/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/l-j-shen
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13531492.L_J_Shen
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2KSFkad

 

 

 

Categories : 3 Stars, Contemporary Romance, Mafia Romance, Reviews Tagged : L.J. Shen, The Kiss Thief

Hot for Teacher Anthology Release Day Blitz

October 18, 2016




















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Nineteen of today’s bestselling authors…

Plus

Nineteen tales of tempting teachers and seductive students…

Equals

One HOT anthology for an epic cause.

Sexy, spicy, romantic, angsty, funny, or sweet-however you like your fantasies, these nineteen original novellas guarantee extra heat.

100% of digital sales profits will go to ProLiteracy, promoting and supporting literacy programs for all ages, genders, and cultures.

















Lucky Chance by Carina Adams








Synopsis








Lucky is the golden boy in his college town.   A filthy talking bad boy, he can have any woman he wants.   Except Ms. Bernard.   A chance encounter. One unforgettable night.   Breaking the rules never felt so good.








Author Bio








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Carina Adams has been writing and creating characters for as long as she can remember, allowing her to fall in love with the next man of her dreams with every new story.








Thankfully, fate stepped in and granted her the ultimate wish – a life full of men. Carina lives in a picturesque New England town with her husband, the man who ruined the thought of all others, and two amazing sons who always keep her on her toes.








Carina received her MBA in May, but would much rather play with her imaginary friends (the voices in her head) than work her 8 to 5. When she isn’t trying to juggle being a working mom with karate and drama practices, surprising her children with her sci-fi movie knowledge, or writing, you can find her with her nose pressed against her kindle, on the back of her husband’s motorcycle, or living life vicariously as her Derby Girl persona, Writers Block.








Perfect Chemistry by Aria Cole








Synopsis








Devon Walsh is the chemistry teacher at the local high school, and in all his years teaching, he’s never looked at a student inappropriately. Until Karoline Kingston steps through his door, with the body of a goddess and innocent eyes that beguile him. He’s distracted throughout class but vows to keep his distance, despite every primal urge telling him to take her hard and mark her as his own.   Karoline and Devon count down the days until she’s eighteen and Mr. Walsh can finally touch the woman that he’s been waiting for his entire life. But when he finds another student assaulting her in a dark hallway, Devon loses his mind with rage. Threatening to expose the risky road Karoline and Devon had found themselves on, he vows to protect Karoline no matter the cost.    








 Devon walsh is brilliant, demanding, and lives life by a rigid set of rules. As chemistry teacher at the high school, his focus is single-minded, his expectations exacting, he has little interest in dating or relationships because nothing comes between him and the job. But Devon has one downfall that he never saw coming and she’s tall, curvy, and completely forbidden.   Seventeen-year-old karoline kingston spends more time in the library than she does at senior parties. She’s always managed to escape the attention of the cocky guys in her class, but this year she’s back with a new set of curves that can’t be hidden no matter how hard she tries. Awkward and uncomfortable, Karoline avoids the eyes of everyone, until she sets eyes on her new teacher, the brilliant, sexy and totally intimidating Mr. Walsh.   








They do their best to play by the rules, but the chemistry between them is too explosive, each desperate look, every fevered touch pushing them closer to the forbidden edge. Just when they think they’ve found everything , all they’ve worked at protecting is threatened in a single fevered moment, because Mr. Walsh broke his first rule: never bang a student.








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Aria Cole is a thirty-something housewife who once felt bad for reading dirty books late at night, until she decided to write her own. Possessive alpha men and the sassy heroines who love them are common, along with a healthy dose of irresistible insta-love and happily ever afters so sweet your teeth may ache.








For a safe, off-the-charts HOT, and always HEA story that doesn’t take a lifetime to read, get lost in an Aria Cole book!





Follow Aria on Amazon for new release updates, or stalk her on Facebook and Twitter to see which daring book boyfriend she’s writing next!








Playing with Fire by Mara White








Synopsis








Out of all the shitty things that could possibly happen to you in high school… My parents got divorced and mom couldn’t afford the rent in Manhattan. So she did what any secure, sane and responsible adult would do, move back into the house she grew up in with her parents in Ohio. And where does that leave me? A dedicated dancer about to graduate from LaGuardia Performing Arts, a shoe-in for Juilliard who’s used to navigating the city streets she’s known ever since kindergarten? In Beaufort, Ohio—that’s where, sharing a bunk bed with my mom and starting a brand new school midway through my senior year.








Author Bio








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Mara White is a contemporary romance and erotica writer who laces forbidden love stories with hard issues, such as race, gender and inequality. She holds an Ivy League degree but has also worked in more strip clubs than even she can remember. She is not a former Mexican telenovela star contrary to what the tabloids might say, but she is a former ballerina and will always remain one in her heart. She lives in NYC with her husband and two children and yes, when she’s not writing you can find her on the playground.








Illicit by Ava Harrison

Synopsis








One night of passion with a stranger. My last escape before senior year. I was never supposed to see him again. But now I see him every day during first period. It’s against the rules to ever touch him. Because now that school’s in session, he’s off limits. Forbidden. Illicit.  








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Ava Harrison is a New Yorker, born and bred.








When she’s not journaling her life, you can find her window shopping, cooking dinner for her family, or curled up on her couch reading a book.








“Shut Up and Dance with Me” by QT Ruby

Synopsis








Monkey wrenches and unicorns—two things that will change the course of Reggie Proctor’s last year of college.








Author Bio








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Q.T. Ruby, author of A Matter of Trust and its sequel A Moment of Truth, regularly escapes real-life to fall into make-believe worlds of her own design. Living in her native Connecticut with her two sweet kids, a wonderful husband, and a cat that doesn’t like to get picked up, she teaches tweens full time, hunkers down for cold winters, and tries to write like the wind in the summer.








Dirty Lessons by C.M.Steele








Synopsis








I fell in love/lust with the hottest senior in school. There was just one glitch…I was her teacher.








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C.M. Steele is a mother of three and a wife of one. Being a voracious reader of romance novels, she decided to create her own heroes to fall in love with. . Although, the process was harder than she expected. There were times when she wanted to throw in the towel and go back to work in the business world, but it was the few readers that kept her going.








Now she’s living her dream of creating characters she loves and sharing them with other readers. She’s had moments of doubt and disappointment, but the voices in her head want their stories told, so she must go on. They were always naughty, bossy male voices, and she just can’t disappoint them.








Stealing Miss Brooks by Sloane Howell








Synopsis








Jeremiah Jackson is about to be a first round draft pick right out of high school and sign a huge contract. Ashley Brooks refuses to let him skate by in her Lit class with minimal effort. Sparks fly after a chance encounter outside of school at a rock concert, but will they be able to fight their attraction until the end of the school year?








Author Bio








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Sloane Howell lives in the Midwest United States and writes hot romance stories. A former college baseball player turned author, when not reading or writing, he enjoys hanging out with his family, watching sports, traveling, and engaging his readers on social media. You can almost always catch him goofing off on Facebook or Twitter, and trying to convince Mrs. Howell that it is “work.”








Star Pupil by Rochelle Paige








Synopsis








Griffin Stone isn’t known for his patience, but he manages to endure the three months until Avery Rose’s eighteenth birthday to pursue her. The hot teacher has a plan…   Step 1: Get close to Avery by replacing her set teacher.   Step 2: Make the gorgeous young actress fall for him—just like he’d done with her at first sight from across the studio lot.   Step 3: Teach her the most important lesson of all—that she belongs with him.   Warning: The sweet story might be short, but it has plenty of sexiness and an alpha male who will do whatever it takes to get his woman.








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Rochelle Paige is the Amazon bestselling author of eleven books. She absolutely adores reading and her friends growing up used to tease her when she trailed after them, trying to read and walk at the same time. She loves stories with alpha males, sassy heroines, hot sex and happily ever afters. She is a bit of a genre hopper in both her reading and her writing. So far she’s written books in several romance sub-genres including new adult, contemporary, paranormal and romantic suspense.








She is the mother of two wonderful sons who inspired her to chase her dream of being an author. She wants them to learn from her that you can live your dream as long as you are willing to work for it.








Firecracker by Roya Carmen








Synopsis








A fun steamy rom-com. An uptight bookkeeper. A cocky French Canadian artist. Sammy gets roped into attending an art retreat in Québec City, and falls for her very sexy art instructor.








Author Bio








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Mom of three little sweethearts, writer, bookaholic, Nutella-addict, artist, graphic designer, cartoonist, and hopeless romantic. When I’m not writing, I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, painting, yoga, camping and travel. I am a Northern French-Canadian, and currently live just North of Toronto.








There is nothing I enjoy more than sitting down at my laptop and making up my own stories – and if those tales should include beautiful men, a little romance, and a few steamy scenes, all the better!








Spring Fling by Elle Christensen








Synopsis








Abbi and Logan burn for each other the moment they meet. They spend spring breaks together and when it comes to an end, it’s clear they both want more.   But, when it turns out that Logan is a new teacher at Abbi’s school, will they be forced to stay away from each other? Making their time together nothing but a spring fling?








Author Bio








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I’m a lover of all things books, a hopeless romantic, and have always had a passion for writing. Between being a sappy romantic, my love of an HEA, my crazy imagination, and ok, let’s be real, my dirty mind, I fell easily into writing romance.








I’m a huge baseball fan and yet, a complete girly, girl. I’m an obsessive reader and have a slight (hahaha! Slight? Yeah, right) addiction to signed books.








I’m married to my very own book boyfriend, an alpha male with a sexy, sweet side. He is the best inspiration, my biggest supporter and the love of my life. He is also incredibly patient and understanding about the fact that he has to fight the voices in my head for my attention.








I hope you enjoy reading my books as much as I enjoyed writing them!








Salacious by A.Zavarelli








Synopsis








Keller Vaughn is everything that I aspire to be. An artist. A visionary. A creator. If ever a perfect man existed, it would be him. The only problem is… that perfect man? He’s also my professor.   I came here to teach. To absolve myself from the guilt of my past by doing good for others. That plan has worked out just fine. Until her. Chloe Abernathy. Because when I see the shy dancer in the back of my classroom, the man in me wants nothing more to corrupt her.








Author Bio








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A. Zavarelli is a romance book junkie, cat lover, and traveler when plagued by intense cases of wanderlust. She likes all things chocolate, books that come with warnings, and putting her characters through hell.








Her tales have been known to flirt with darkness and sometimes court it unabashedly altogether. Revenge themes and tortured souls are her favorites to write and this gives her an excuse to watch bizarre and twisted documentaries in her spare time.








She is slightly obsessed with Theo James and funny animal memes. If you don’t mind these things, you should add her on facebook. Even better, make sure you don’t miss a new release by signing up for the newsletter below.








In The Moment by Alison G. Bailey








Synopsis









One night.   One random meeting.   And one moment was all it took to bring Cadence Fletcher’s heart, soul, and body back to life.








Author Bio








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Alison lives in Charleston, SC. Her debut novel, Present Perfect, is an Amazon and International bestseller. The novel won Best Book at the 2014 Indie Romance Convention Awards. Both follow-up novels in the Perfect Series landed on many Best Of Lists for 2014-2015. Stop!, Alison’s first YA novel was named one of the top YA novels of 2015.








Defy by L.J. Shen

Synopsis








My name is Melody Greene, and I have a confession to make. I slept with my student, a senior in high school. Multiple times. I had multiple orgasms. In multiple positions. I slept with my student and I enjoyed it. I slept with my student and I’d do it all over again if I could turn back time. My name is Melody Greene, and I got kicked out of my position as a teacher and did my walk of shame a la Cersei Lannister from the principal’s office, minutes after said principal threatened to call the cops on me.








Author Bio








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L.J. Shen is a former entertainment and music journalist, a recovering hipster, a hopeless romantic and a reformed Riot grrrl. She speaks three languages – four, if you include sarcasm. She writes everything from dark to comedy, as long as there’s enough love and romance involved. Shen lives in Northern California with her son, husband, cat and collection of designer shoes.








L.J. wants to be Tina Fey when she grows up. Keep your fingers crossed for her.








Riding Through by Dani Wyatt








Synopsis








Everything was going fine until I saw her ass in those riding pants. Constance Montgomery with her legs spread on the leather of the saddle. Her top half has my mouth watering and things inside me shift. Seems my program is about to change. All the years of indifference to any female form all come tumbling down. My hard rule to never get involved with a student is about to be broken. With her.   Reed Sawyer is at the top of his game. The top equestrian trainer around and I’m about to pass out because he’s looking right at me. Only, he’s not my trainer. I’m tired of being under my parent’s thumb. Maybe it’s time I pushed the envelope a little. And Reed Sawyer looks like just the right wall to start pushing on.   A naïve, sheltered girl. A brooding, perfectionist with years of pent up need. The sparks fly. The walls come down. Hot lessons are learned.








Author Bio








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Dani Wyatt used to feel bad about having such dirty thoughts. Luckily, one day she decided to starting writing them down. Her uber alpha heros have a wicked possessive streak and an insatiable libido. Her heroines are intelligent, quirky and worry about having too much muffin top. With her books, you can count on a heaping helping of HOT and always a happily ever after.








When she’s not writing (which is not often) she is probably laughing about some irony (like A-1 Steak Sauce is vegan), riding her horse, wondering why The Walking Dead can’t have a new episode every night, or looking cross-eyed at some piece of technology sent to ruin her day.








Break Point by Rachel Blaufeld

Synopsis





Juliette Smith, star tennis player, is starting over at a new university. Traumatized by hazing at her last school, all she wants is to attend classes, win tennis matches, and be left the hell alone.   She should have known her coach, Drew King, would be a problem from the moment he flexed his sexy-as-hell forearms.   What happens when you mix a pissed-off woman with a bunch of snooty teammates and a hot coach?   A heated match, complete with team politics and a forbidden game of singles with the coach.








Author Bio








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Rachel Blaufeld is a bestselling author of Coming of Age, Romantic Suspense, and Sports Romance fiction. She recently asked her readers to describe her, and the adjectives they came up with included: insightful, generous, articulate, and spunky. Originally a social worker, Rachel creates broken yet redeeming characters. She’s been known to turn up the angst like cranking the heat up in the dead of winter.








Turning her focus on her sometimes wild-and-crazy creative side, it only took Rachel two decades to do exactly what she wanted to do—write a fiction novel. Now she spends way too many hours in local coffee shops, downing muffins and plotting her ideas. Her tales may all come with a side of angst and naughtiness, but end deliciously.








Blaufeld, also an entrepreneur/blogger, is fearless about sharing her opinion. Before turning her pen to fiction, she captured the ear of stay-at-home and working moms on her blog, BacknGrooveMom, chronicling her adventures in parenting tweens and inventing a product, often at the same time. She has also blogged for the Huffington Post and Modern Mom.





Most recently, she shares conversations from being “In Bed with a Romance Author” and reading recommendations over at “Happy Ever After” on USA TODAY.








Rachel lives around the corner from her childhood home in Pennsylvania with her family and two beagles. Her obsessions include running, coffee, basketball, icing-filled doughnuts, antiheroes, and mighty fine epilogues.








Teach Me, Sir by Julia Sykes








Synopsis








Indulging in her secret fantasies about Professor Parker would destroy Sarah’s Good Girl persona. Luckily for her, she doesn’t have a shot with her sexy teacher, so her reputation is safe.   But when Sarah puts herself in a dangerous situation, Professor Parker’s protective—and possessive—instincts take over. Forbidden lust ignites as his long-denied urges to possess his innocent student consume him.   Can they keep their taboo attraction secret? Or will surrendering to their darkest impulses ruin them both?








Author Bio








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Julia Sykes is the USA Today bestselling author of the Impossible Series. She has always kept dark stories tucked away in her mind, so she was thrilled when she discovered that other people actually want to read them. Her books blend romance, suspense, and BDSM.








When not writing, Julia spends her time petting her cat-children, reading, and binge watching TV with her husband. You can usually find her in Starbucks with a venti iced coffee clutched in her hand.








Julia loves connecting with readers! Please feel free to contact her on facebook, through twitter, or email her directly at juliasykes193@gmail.com. You can find out more about Julia’s current and future projects at julia-sykes.com.








Schooled by A Senior by K. Webster








Synopsis








Aut Blanks is brilliant bad boy with a chip on his shoulder. Mrs. Macmillan is a substitute teacher way in over her head. When they’re forced to work together, the sexual tension is off the charts. Will the teacher remain professional or will she be schooled in a lesson on sex by a filthy boy who barely fits in his desk?








Author Bio








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K Webster is the author of dozens of romance books in many different genres including contemporary romance, historical romance, paranormal romance, and erotic romance. When not spending time with her husband of twelve years and two adorable children, she’s active on social media connecting with her readers.








Her other passions besides writing include reading and graphic design. K can always be found in front of her computer chasing her next idea and taking action. She looks forward to the day when she will see one of her titles on the big screen.








Learning His Law by Celia Aaron





Synopsis








Having a crush on her demanding—and sexy—law school professor seemed inevitable for Penny. Professor Elliot was smart, hot, and intense. There was only one problem; Penny noticed that Professor Elliot never looked at her, never so much as glanced her way since he called roll on the very first day. When professor and student are thrown together, Penny will discover just how far her professor will go to make her his.

















Author Bio








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Celia Aaron is a recovering attorney who loves romance and erotic fiction. Dark to light, angsty to funny, real to fantasy—if it’s hot and strikes her fancy, she writes it. Thanks for reading.








Behind The Wall by Jane Harvey-Berrick








Synopsis








Behind the Wall is a story of an illicit love that tries to blossom behind the bars of Nottoway Correctional Center, a level 3 security prison.   Ella Newsome quit her job teaching in public school to work in a prison. Her passion is education, but when she is challenged by felon Dane Garrett in more ways than one, she’s shaken to the core.   Can love bloom in such a harsh environment, or will Ella learn things about Garrett that she’d rather not know?








Author Bio








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I get asked where my ideas come from. A lot. That’s a really hard one to answer, because it’s usually a build-up of vague ideas, conversations overheard (I do like to lurk), things I’ve seen or experienced, and sometimes just that weird alchemy that is imagination.








I carry a notebook everywhere in case inspiration strikes, and I’m often jotting down notes while I walk by the ocean with my four-legged best friend.
















Categories : Anthology, Book Blast, Book Blitz, Contemporary Erotic Romance, Contemporary Romance, Release Blitz, Student-Teacher Tagged : A.Zavarelli, Alison G. Bailey, Aria Cole, C. M. Steele, Carina Adams, Celia Aaron, Dani Wyatt, Elle Christensen, Hot for Teacher, Jane Harvey-Berrick, Julia Sykes, K. Webster, L.J. Shen, Mara White, QT Ruby, Rachel Blaufeld, Rochelle Paige, Roya Carmen, Sloane Howell

Excerpt: Blood to Dust by L.J. Shen

July 1, 2016

 

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Coming July 18th

Add to your Goodreads shelf now.

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His name is Beat, and I should hate him.

Bound, blindfolded and bruised, I’m tied in his basement, waiting for the men who stripped me from clothes and humanity to collect his debt to them. Me.

His name is Nate and I should hate him, but I don’t.

I’m not supposed to know his real name, even worse, I’m not supposed to care. He is nothing to me but means to an end. The plan is simple: break free, collect the pieces of my broken soul, kill the bastards and run away.

His name is Nathaniel Thomas Vela, and I’ve never seen his face, though I hear that it’s beautiful.

Behind the rugged and handsome exterior, there’s a quiet murderer, a killer who thinks guns are for pussies and ends people with his bare hands.

His name doesn’t matter, neither does his face, but what does matter is my heart. And right now, sadly, it’s his.

Blood to Dust is a standalone, full-length novel. It contains graphic violence and adult situations some may find offensive.

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I wolf down my dinner before he grabs my hand and leads me up the stairs. He stalks closely behind, and even though it’s taking me forever to climb up the narrow staircase, he keeps his grunt-count to a respectable minimum.

Leading me to the bathroom by the arm, he throws the door open and we both gait into the tiny room. Still blindfolded, I feel the cold sink stabbing at my lower back, but the warmth of his proximity keeps me from shivering.

“I need my privacy.” I lick my lips, feeling him everywhere. Not only is Beat physically big, he is also somewhat of a human furnace. I swear he radiates enough heat to photosynthesize a whole forest. I guess it’s good, because I always know when he’s around. But also bad, because why would it matter? It’s not like I can fight him in any way.

“Dream on, Country Club.” Another grunt.

“Please.” My voice breaks. Usually, I’m counting on my caramel blonde hair and big Disney-animal eyes—which he unfortunately can’t see right now—to get me out of trouble. I have a feeling this guy is harder to crack. “Just lock me in and stand on guard outside. What can I do? Arm myself with a bar of soap? Try and break free through the sink’s hole?”

Is he going to buy it?

Is he sensitive?

Is he hard-nosed?

Maybe he’s both. He’s got some serious codes going on—no beating women, no manhandling your victim, yet he essentially agreed to lock me in here. Then there’s his tone and body language. Peaceful. Like he hasn’t got a care in the world, which couldn’t be further from the truth. I’ve known him for a few short hours and I’m already privy to the fact that he was an inmate in San Dimas, has killed, owes Godfrey a favor and has the Aryan Brotherhood on his tail.

“Be warned”—his peachy breath tickles my nose—“when people are bad to me, I’m worse. Don’t tempt my demons.”

Beat takes off my blindfold, but he’s not as thoughtless as to show me his face. His black tee is pulled over his head, revealing a tattooed six-pack. Even his fingertips are full of blues and blacks. Yet, one side of his body is completely ink-free. Massive, menacing…and as much as I hate to admit it, attractive.

Sweet Statute of Liberty, if I need to screw one of them in the name of freedom, please let it be him and not the chunky tattooist.

Beat can still see me through the fabric of his shirt, but before I get the chance to make out his face, he dashes out of the bathroom and locks the door from the outside with a key.

“You’ve got fifteen minutes to do everything. Pee, shit, shower, get dressed. Starting now.”

I don’t argue or waste a second. I jump into the shower and pee as the stream of gurgling water splashes over my body. My bladder is burning with release, and so are the blistering fresh wounds Seb decorated me with. Slowly, I’m starting to feel a little better, think a little clearer.

The water is hot and violent against my strained muscles. There’s only one bar of soap—I’m pretty sure Beat and Ink are sharing it (I’m guessing they’re roomies by the two worn-out towels on the rack). Not very sanitary, but hygiene is a luxury I cannot afford right now.

I scrub my body and keep the water running as I try to pry open the overhead rust-stained window next to the showerhead. I stand on my toes, peeking outside, blinking away disbelief as the sight in front of me registers. A teenager with a beanie zig-zags his way on a bike in the middle of the road, the electric wires above his head tangled with shoelaces and sneakers. Beyond the sight of shotgun houses, wilting porches and the echoes of desperate, barking dogs…a Taco Bell.

Taco Bell!

I recognize the branch. I’m in Stockton. Whose streets I know, whose crack heads I studied, whose language of hardship and adversity I speak fluently.

I study my surroundings. The house I’m trapped in is a simple one-story, and the house right in front of it is probably an identical bungalow. It looks deserted, so yelling will get me nowhere other than on Beat and Ink’s shit list.

But I’m guessing by the sound of traffic and the location of the fast food restaurant that we’re close to El Dorado, one of Stockton’s main streets.

Knowing where I am will work in my favor when I run away.

And I will run away. One way or the other. With or without Beat’s help.

I always land on my feet.

I broke free from Callum, Godfrey and Sebastian. Getting rid of these two should be a walk in the park.

Beat’s fist slams against the door three times, then unlocks the door from the outside.

“Yo, Silver Spoon. Your time’s up.”

“Just one second,” I call, turning off the faucet and stepping outside. I reach for one of the manly dark towels and cover myself up as I squat down to pick up my gray dress.

Hold on a minute.

Manly…Dark…Towels.

They might have a shaving razor. Holy hell, they might have a weapon in here.

I start flinging drawers open, still wrapped in a towel, desperately trying to find something to injure Beat with. I don’t even care if he hears. Give me a razor and I will dice this 6’5 Goliath to pieces the size of Barbacoa. Talent can be outworked and rage can outweigh size. That’s the motto I live by.

Beat bangs on the door again, and it wails on its hinges.

“Hey…you,” he grunts. He doesn’t even know my name. “If you make me open this door myself, you’ll be fucking sorry.”

I ignore him. He can’t rape or harm me. Godfrey made that clear. Honestly? I’m not scared of him that much. He’s been nothing but compassionate to me so far, in his own, angry, Stockton way. Damn it, though. They have absolutely nothing in these drawers. Empty, empty, empty. What’s wrong with these men? Do they not live here, or did they think about this scenario beforehand? Probably the latter. I’m just about to turn around and pick up my dress when the door swings open and Guy Fawkes’s face greets me again, bat-shit crazy galore. The drawers are all open. I threw most of their contents on the floor in my desperate search for a weapon.

This is not looking good for me.

This man is going to kill me…and for once in my life, I don’t feel like putting up a fight anymore.

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L.J. Shen is a best-selling author of Contemporary Romance novels. She lives in Northern California with her husband, young son and chubby cat.

She enjoys the simple things in life, like chocolate, wine, reading, HBO, spending time with her girlfriends and internet-stalking Chris Hemsworth. She reads between three to five books a week and firmly believes Crocs shoes and mullets should be outlawed.

Author Links

Twitter  Facebook Amazon Goodreads

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Categories : Mafia Romance, Romantic Suspense Tagged : Blood to Dust, Excerpt, L.J. Shen

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